Brynmawr School Walks. 1937

Chapels in the Brynmawr area held their Sunday School Walks on Whit Monday and Mr J Fred Phillips was at the ready to film the event for showing in the cinemas he operated in Brynmawr (the Market Hall 1923-48 and the Cosy Cinema 1924-58). The deacons from each chapel – arms linked - would lead their groups to join the massed procession, singing hymns as they walked, returning to their own chapels afterwards for tea. And after the walking, Mr Phillips recorded the swimming!

Brynmawr's Swimming Pool, seen here being officially opened, was constructed by volunteers on the site of a former ironworks pond, under the auspices of the Society of Friends (Quakers) who were active in the Brynmawr area during the Depression of the 1930s - they set up boot and furniture making factories. 'An Order of friends', which included both Quakers and non-Quakers, helped unemployed miners in the nearby Abergavenny area to farm co-operatively as a Subsistence Production Society [see the film entitled 'Eastern Valley']. Despite the hard times, the Sunday School walkers' shoes gleam with polish and there are plenty of hats and trimmings. A few umbrellas also make an appearance at one point.